Municipal workers battle in Turf Rodeo

March 23, 2008|By Nick Sortal Staff Writer

Who works a Bobcat the fastest? Who's the best leaf-blower operator? And why spend a day finding out?

The answers - Steve Strobridge, of Deerfield Beach, (Bobcat) and Tony Taylor, of Lauderdale Lakes, (leaf blower) - could be found earlier this month at South Florida's 16th annual Turf Rodeo, a day for municipal maintenance workers to test their skills and see recent equipment upgrades.

About 300 workers from about 20 recreation agencies signed up, including Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and the Broward County parks system. The event was at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale.

"We don't often focus on the work they do, but their work is essential," said Weston Parks and Recreation Director Don Decker, who also is the Southeast Region director for the Florida Recreation and Park Association. "They don't get a lot of the glory and sometimes people take them for granted but, without them, the programs we put on would not be possible."

Among the events: Bobcat basketball (picking up basketballs with a machine and dumping them into a bucket), blower slalom (pushing a ball through an obstacle course using a leaf blower) and expedient ball-field lining. To foster socialization, the organizers also had competitions in basketball shooting, home-run hitting, volleyball and dominoes.

While the day fueled competition among departments, it also was a chance for education. Representatives of companies that make mowers, utility carts, ball-field liners, irrigation supplies and weed eaters had booths.

Allen Stroman, who maintains Otis Gray Park for Lauderdale Lakes, said the public may not know how deeply most maintenance workers care.

"Many of us aren't just there for the paycheck. We really, really take pride in what we do," he said. "I enjoy seeing people on, say, a walking trail that I have taken care of."

As Stroman awaited his turn in the John Deere Gator rally (driving through an obstacle course without spilling a cup of water), he explained his motivation.

"Bragging rights," he said. "People always claim to be the best at something. This proves it."

But the competition is secondary, said Rick Mucciaccio, a parks supervisor for Fort Lauderdale, which hosted the rodeo.

"It's mainly a chance for everybody to spend a day together," he said. "On the rec [administrative] side, we go to conferences and network all the time. This is the only opportunity for them to do something similar."

The host Fort Lauderdale team finished first, buoyed by wins in the mower relay and the John Deere Rally. The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division was second, and West Palm Beach and Deerfield Beach tied for third.

Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.